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Scan time minimization in hepatic diffusion-weighted imaging: evaluation of the simultaneous multislice acceleration technique with different acceleration factors and gradient preparation schemes

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Abstract

Objective

To evaluate simultaneous multislice (sms) accelerated diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) of the liver in comparison to conventional sequences.

Materials and methods

Ten volunteers underwent DWI of the liver at 1.5 T. Four different sms-accelerated sequences with monopolar and bipolar gradient preparation (MP, BP) and acceleration factors 2 and 3 (sms2-DWI, sms3-DWI) were compared to conventional DWI (c-DWI). Image quality criteria rated on a 5-point Likert scale (5 = excellent), image quality sum scores (maximum 120), and ADC were compared using Friedman test and Dunn-Bonferroni post hoc test. Bland–Altman plots were calculated for ADC comparison. p values <0.05 were considered significant.

Results

Sms2-DWI offered scan time minimization of 67 % without significant difference in image quality (sum score: sms2-DWI MP/BP: 97 ± 8/92 ± 9; c-DWI MP/BP: 99 ± 8/97 ± 8). Sms3-DWI offered slight additional scan time minimization with significantly inferior image quality (sum score: sms3-DWI MP/BP: 75 ± 14/69 ± 14; p < 0.001). MP preparation provided slightly higher image quality in sms-DWI without statistical significance. ADC in sms-DWI were significantly lower (sms2-DWI MP 1.01 × 10−3 mm2/s; c-DWI MP 1.20 × 10−3 mm2/s; p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Sms2-DWI provides considerable scan time minimization without significant shortcomings in image quality. Sms3-DWI provides significantly inferior image quality without further scan time minimization. Potentially lower ADC in sms-DWI should be considered in clinical routine.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the University of Minnesota Center for Magnetic Resonance Research for offering continuous support regarding the sms-accelerated sequence. Dr. Christian Wuerslin, Stanford, Radiological Sciences Laboratory, is acknowledged for sharing with us the Matlab post-processing software.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany

    Jana Taron, Nina F. Schwenzer, Jakob Weiß, Ahmed Othman, Mike Notohamiprodjo, Konstantin Nikolaou & Christina Schraml

  2. Section on Experimental Radiology, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany

    Petros Martirosian

  3. Department of Biomedical Magnetic Resonance, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany

    Michael Erb

  4. Institute of Signal Processing and System Theory, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany

    Thomas Kuestner

Authors
  1. Jana Taron
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  2. Petros Martirosian
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  3. Nina F. Schwenzer
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  4. Michael Erb
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  5. Thomas Kuestner
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  6. Jakob Weiß
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  7. Ahmed Othman
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  9. Konstantin Nikolaou
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  10. Christina Schraml
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Christina Schraml.

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Funding

This study did not receive funding.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest regarding data acquisition, data evaluation, data interpretation and preparation of the manuscript for the study.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in the study were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all participants included in the study.

Appendix

Appendix

See Table 3.

Table 3 Comparison of mean ratings for predefined image quality criteria and sum scores
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Taron, J., Martirosian, P., Schwenzer, N.F. et al. Scan time minimization in hepatic diffusion-weighted imaging: evaluation of the simultaneous multislice acceleration technique with different acceleration factors and gradient preparation schemes. Magn Reson Mater Phy 29, 739–749 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10334-016-0553-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10334-016-0553-4

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